The number of fixed penalty notices handed to parents of truant children varies hugely between neighbouring Welsh councils.

Carmarthenshire council has issued none of the fines since January 2015 but Swansea council has issued 1,162 of them.

The £60 fines were introduced by the Welsh Government but it is up to individual councils to issue the fines, which are aimed at raising pupil attendance.

The controversial scheme prompted the then education minister, Huw Lewis, to clarify its purpose in December 2014.

Mr Lewis reminded parents that they did not have an automatic right to withdraw pupils from school for a holiday during term time, but added that there may be a valid reason for taking time off.

But if the absence is classed as unauthorised, then a fine can be issued.

Mr Lewis said: “The criteria for issuing penalty notices, which may differ between local authorities, will be set out in their individual codes of conduct. The code sets out how the fixed penalty notice system operates and the measures in place to ensure consistency, fairness and transparency in the way they are applied.”

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Carmarthenshire council’s director of education and children’s services, Gareth Morgans, said it considered all options when addressing non-attendance.

“We have pursued legal measures where necessary and have also offered advice, support and guidance to families in the form of early intervention,” he said.

“No fixed penalty notices have been issued by Carmarthenshire to date. However, we have referred to court as a last option where attendance has failed to improve.”

Neath Port Talbot Council has issued 202 fines to parents in the last two years.

Swansea council’s total of 1,162 fixed penalty notices has raised some eyebrows, with opposition councillor Mike Day describing the figure as “frightening”.

He said: “I will be asking more questions about the policy and what positive encouragement is given to promote attendance.”

A council spokesman said fines were issued as a last resort once circumstances had been taken into account and all other available options explored.

“Once a child’s attendance rate drops to 90 per cent or below, an education welfare officer works closely with the school and the family to establish reasons that may account for poor attendance,” he said. “Support is available to parents, with an incentivising attendance scheme also now in place.”

Swansea’s latest attendance rates were 94.9 per cent for primary schools and 94.3 per cent for secondary schools.